Suspect arrested in Chesterfield Twp. purse snatching

A convicted robber and registered sex offender on Wednesday was charged in connection with the Sept. 28 attack on a 55-year-old woman who was robbed of her purse outside of a Kohlís department store in Chesterfield Township, according to police.

Marvin Lee Hopkins, 62, of Chesterfield Township, was arraigned in 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore on one count of armed robbery, a life felony. Bond was set at $75,000 and a preliminary exam was scheduled for Oct. 10.

Investigators said the incident took place about 12:25 p.m. on Sept. 28 as the woman was walking back to her car in the parking lot after shopping at Kohlís. After she put her purchases into the car, she was approached from behind by a suspect who grabbed her arm and threatened to kill her if she didnít hand over her purse.

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The female surrendered her purse and saw the suspect run towards a nearby Kmart parking lot. Multiple police and detective units responded to the area after the woman called for help but were unable to locate the suspect.

Later that night, a man and a woman knocked on her door and handed her the purse, stating they found it abandoned and brought it back to the address they found on the identification inside.

Detective Brian Chadwick said a tip led police to the couple who returned the stolen purse and they were able to identify Hopkins, who was living in the Chesterfield Motor Lodge at the corner of 23 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue, within walking distance of the Kohlís store.

Chadwick said police located Hopkins and arrested him.

At the time of his arrest, Hopkins was on probation with the Michigan Department of Corrections stemming from a 2010 conviction in Macomb County for assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced to five years on Dec. 14, 2011, but state records do not indicate how much, if any time, he served.

State records show he also was convicted in 1968 on charges of assault with intent to rob while armed and served five years in prison.